The University of Sydney is cultivating smart farming practices with the $12 million dollar International Centre of Crop and Digital Farming.

The new endeavour, to be based at the university’s facility near Narrabri in central-west NSW, is aimed at giving a big boost to digital agriculture, heat tolerant crops and robotic farming.

“Global food security and the future of agriculture in NSW and Australia rely on the sort of research done by our scientists in Narrabri,” said University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence.

“This investment from the NSW Government and industry will ensure our 60-year tradition of world-class research will continue through the century,” he said.

The new complex will include genetic and agronomy laboratories alongside digital and robotic workplaces and meeting space to support research and industry engagement. According to the university, a major mandate for the centre will be to promote digital and robotic technologies for use by farmers and agribusiness to make their businesses more productive and profitable.

The investment will also support doubling employment on site to 80 staff and attract post-graduate students and researchers from around the world.

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